Wakeboarding - Overcoming Riding Slumps!

[@LifetimeShred]

You got this! I will say way back when you rode 75/23 on my old VLX I thought you looked good. Ive found my ultimate slump busters to be- 1- don’t ride when the weather is cold 2- do a full ballast set of only straight airs. I did a set of only ts no grab straight airs the other week and it helped a ton. 3 - sometimes you just need a week or 2 off. Gives you time to get other life stuff done, rehab and builds excitement to get back out. My broken arm taught me that one.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@LifetimeShred Appreciate the feedback, Rich! And yes, I remember that setup behind your boat back in 2015-16, but I got hurt on that well. Remember I separated a rib over rotating a HS3. Could ride for weeks & when I did get back to riding, could do most things for a while because my rib was still tender. Maybe there's just no good setup for me?? Haha!

[@wake_mann]

I feel you bro, starting to see more slumps the older I get. Hurt my back then my ribs this year. Still gonna shred for now though. As much as it sucks I would say stop going to the flats.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@wake_mann Haha, that's just not an option. This is wakeboarding not trick skiing! 😂😂 But in all seriousness, I'm definitely starting to feel the "age" component have its affect on my body. That's why I committed to changing my lifestyle back in June to lose weight & lead a healthier life style. Have lost 15lbs since but still got a long ways to go. I need to catch up on your last 4 videos too, I apologize for slacking on that!

[@wake_mann]

@ryanshimabukuro3283 no worries bro, probably on the right track, lots of stretching helps me. I started doing 25 push-ups per day about a month ago and I've been happy with the results.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@wake_mann absolutely!

[@christopherdunkley2632]

Why don't you try learn new tricks? Go back to basics.. ride shorter and slower. Ride a 142 at 65' at 22.5.. or even 21.5.. it will teach you how to generate line tension at slower speeds and use your legs more for pop off the top of the wake. Go back to basics big time.. learn hs bs and fs +switch 360s. Learn ts fs and bs 360s. Learn roll to revert and half cab roll. Try some tantrum variations after you dial in blind 180s and hs 180s.. Try learn Raley and glides at like 18.5mph.. Sooo many things you can and should do. IMO riding at 90' at anything over 24mph is unnecessary and dangerous particularly if you are a bigger rider.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@christopherdunkley2632 After I blew my right knee in 2004 (which was my 2nd catastrophic surgery from wakeboarding), I said I'd rather not learn any new tricks then miss another summer of riding. And I've tried to ride slower & shorter length but it just doesn't connect with the way I like to ride. I actually fall more & have gotten hurt much worse that way. Again, my riding setup is nothing new. I've been riding this way for over 15 years now & really have had no issues up to this point. And I have had slumps before, but not like this year. In the past, a slump was like 1-2 sets, not 4-5 months like I've dealt with this year. But I'm continuing to stay optimistic & positive about it, and know that I'll eventually figure it out. Finished off the holiday weekend yesterday with a decent set, one of my better ones this year, so I'll take that little win.

[@christopherdunkley2632]

@ryanshimabukuro3283 I think you have had the wrong approach since 2004. If you learn correctly at slower speeds, learning a new trick should be far safer than the way you are currently riding. Doing tricks at 90' at over 25 mph, is actually far more gforce, than learning something at a shorter rope length at say 20mph.. Sometimes you have to take multiple steps back to take a giant leap forward.. You need to step back to see the forest through the trees. I know you don't agree, because I've recommended this to you before, but this te you asked for opinions, so I thought I would try again.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@christopherdunkley2632I appreciate your input & advice. Let's just agree to disagree on this one, at least for me. Because I wouldn't disagree with that approach for most riders out there. And I also agree with you that I did learn the "wrong" way because back in the mid-90's, it was a race to the "flip". At least with the guys I rode with. Wakeboarding has always been a secondary thing for me, even though I love it. In the past 15 years though, my time on the water is very limited because of work & how crowded our lakes have gotten. It's a 5-6hr commitment just to get the boat to the lake & get 1 set in, and hopefully the water is good for that 1 set. I'm just not motivated to use up what little water time I get with trying drastic changes to my riding style. If I could get on the water at least 4 times a week with great conditions, & I didn't have to worry about "wasting" good water, then I'd probably be more open to it.